Prop 65 WARNING
State of California ~ Required Posting
WARNING: Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects.
State of California Proposition 65 Warning
Under Proposition 65, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) requires every manufacturer, distributor, importer or retailer who sells an alcoholic beverage to a California consumer to provide a clear and reasonable risk warning prior to the consumer purchasing the product.All ABC licensed retailers, including bars, restaurants, tasting rooms, entertainment venues and hotels must have warning signage posted in their premises in a conspicuous manner where the signs will be seen by the consuming public. This also applies to websites that sell alcohol - hence this page.
Why Not Just Add a Warning to the Wine Label?
Unlike most manufacturers who may include the Proposition 65 warning directly on the label, alcoholic beverage manufacturers are precluded from putting the Proposition 65 warning on labels because all alcoholic beverage labels must be approved by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and must contain the federal government warning which is not the same as, nor compliant with, the California Proposition 65 warning.
State of California BPA Warnings
California also requires a warning for any alcoholic beverages that may contain any Bisphenol A (BPA) as part of the packaging. BPA is commonly used in linings for beverage cans and bottle caps and in some synthetic corks.Williamson Wines does not use beverage cans or synthetic corks however California has put BPA on the list of chemicals requiring a warning. The federal Food & Drug Administration is also in disagreement with the California listing, having determined that any possible migration of BPA into the food is at safe levels.
Proposition 65
Proposition 65, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, protects the state's drinking water sources from being contaminated with chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and requires businesses to inform Californians about exposures to such chemicals.Proposition 65 requires the state to maintain and update a list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Check The State of California Prop 65 Frequently asked Questions page.